Time flies so fast that we do not realize it until we reach milestones that remind us of the flowing river we all travel together. It was almost seven years ago my wife, Katie, and I greeted a little baby girl named Kathryn in the hospital when the nurse placed her in her mother's loving arms.

This week we reached another milestone as my now almost 7-year-old little girl went to first grade for her first day of school. It was wonderful to be able to see this milestone in person, and I enjoyed every moment of it.Only three years ago, Kathryn first attended Winnie the Pooh Preschool with Ms. Rose, Ms. Lorraine and Ms. Kendra, and they gave her such a tremendous start in her education. That first day became a pleasant pattern up to and including this year.When she arrived at preschool, she gave us a smile and a hug and ran off to embrace the new experience willingly. She did the same with Ms. Bonner in kindergarten as well. Both those experiences were only half days, so this year was once again a different experience. She was a little nervous last year, but I must commend the Panther Valley Elementary School for the neat idea of inviting the children in one afternoon the week before school started to meet their teacher, see their classroom and learn who shares their class. What a wonderful idea.It was a pleasure to be able to meet and speak with her teacher and ask about what the year would be like. We learned about what to expect from school and what her teacher expected us to do. I think this opportunity minimized the amount of apprehension and fear most youngsters feel when they go to school or to a new grade for the first day. By meeting everyone and learning about the school a few days before it is time to go, it removes the fear of the unknown.When I was little, I hated the first day of school, and most of it was because of the fear of the unknown and what could happen. My fears were always unfounded as I have traveled through life, but I still have that apprehension even today. Fortunately, Kathryn so far has not shared that anxiety. She was excited when she received a postcard from her teacher last week, and after the open house she eagerly counted down the few remaining days. The night before school she was a little nervous, but the excitement edged out the nerves, and she went to bed looking forward to that first full day of school. We took her to the bus on Monday and arrived early so we could take a few photos which have become a tradition for us. When the other children began arriving with their parents, we left the car and walked down to the bus stop. Kathryn began catching up with her friends as Katie and I chatted with their parents and compared notes about our summers. It's amazing that when we are kids, summers seem to last so long, but as adults the months tend to fly quickly past. It felt like school just ended last week and yet here we were again. It was encouraging to see so many parents there to see their children off for the first day. Fathers, mothers, grandparents and students all waiting eagerly for the school bus. There were photos of old friends being taken to remember the day. There were plenty of smiles all around.We tend to get dragged down in the gloomy business of education with school boards, education issues and other adult problems, but when we get bogged down, all we need to do is see our future leaders and remember what school is really about. It's about the joy of learning. It's about friends and fun. It's about new things and new experiences. It's about teaching our children to spread their wings and to embrace learning. The bus soon arrived, and the driver who actually is our neighbor Mike alighted and organized the kids like a true professional. He organized the children by grade and swiftly moved them onto the bus to their seats. Several more photographs by parents as our eager students climbed onto the bus and sat down, their little faces smiling out the window. Soon the doors closed and the bus pulled away, heading to a new school year and new adventures. These years pass by too quickly, I am told by some of my friends. I hope to enjoy and remember all of them as much as possible. Life has been compared by some to a river that ebbs and flows but never stands still. I cherish these moments the most and try to remember to make each day count. We all need to remember this. We have one shot at life, and we need to enjoy the little moments and make every minute count.I wish my daughter, her friends and their families and all students a great year. I also wish the teachers, drivers, aides and everyone else who helps to teach our children a great school year. Thank you for all you do to help them love learning. Have a great year. Till next time …